163 killed in Zanzibar ferry tragedy

At least 163 people have died after an overloaded ferry sank off the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar with at least 600 people on board.

Zanzibar’s emergencies minister said 325 survivors had been rescued so far.

Meanwhile, Kenyan President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga have condoled Zanzibar following the ferry tragedy.

President Kibaki said in the wake of the tragedy, Kenyans expressed their solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Zanzibar in the spirit of the East African Community.

“On behalf of the Government and the people of Kenya, and on my own behalf, I extend to Your Excellency personally, and through you, to the bereaved families, the government and the people of Zanzibar our heartfelt condolences,” he said in a statement.

He also wished the 325 survivors a quick recovery.

Raila appealed to the region and the international community to stand in solidarity with the people of Zanzibar in helping ease the pain and ensuring quick recovery from the tragedy.

“At a time we are struggling to come together as an economic unit and a political federation, a tragedy in any of our countries in the East African Community takes the whole region several steps backwards”.

The MV Spice Islander was travelling between Zanzibar’s main island, Unguja, and Pemba, the archipelago’s other main island – popular tourist destinations.

Rescue efforts were hampered by the fact that the overloaded boat had capsized at night.

It had been bringing people back from holiday after Ramadan, and had reportedly stopped earlier in Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam.

The authorities are struggling to cope and have asked for foreign help.

“We have recovered 163 people who have died and we have rescued 325 survivors,” regional emergencies minister Mohammed Aboud told the AFP news agency.

The Zanzibar government has set up a rescue centre and called upon all reserves to join the rescue effort.

It has also called for support from other countries, such as South Africa and Kenya.

Washed ashore

The survivors were ferried by privately owned fast ferries and brought back to the main harbour in the historic Stone Town, Zanzibar police commissioner Mussar Hamis said.

“We are still receiving many bodies by truck loads,” Dr Karim Zah of the Mnazi Mmoja Hospital in Zanzibar told Reuters news agency.

Those rescued were brought back to the main harbour in Stone Town “The death toll will likely be much higher.”

Dozens of soldiers carrying bodies to shore dotted the white sand beaches at the northern tip of Zanzibar island where thousands of people anxiously awaited news of survivors, the agency adds.

Catherine Purvis, a British tourist in Zanzibar who was waiting for a ferry to take her to Dar es Salaam, says she saw lots of bodies being brought out of the water.

“I’m standing at the port in Zanzibar with about 10 other British and American tourists,” she said.

“Our ferry has been delayed as they’re using all ferries to rescue the people from the ship.

“People are being carried across in front of us on a drip. There are lots of body bags.”

The regional emergencies minister said 40 of those rescued had been seriously injured.